X-MEN #13

“Where Walks the Juggernaut!”
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Pencils: Jay Gavin
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
Xavier tries to disable Juggernaut with a mental bolt, but his helmet protects him. While the X-Men delay Juggernaut, Xavier tries to mentally contact other heroes, finally reaching the Human Torch. Juggernaut defeats the X-Men and confronts Xavier, just as the Torch arrives. Torch high-intensity flame temporarily blinds Juggernaut, while Angel flies past him and wrenches off the helmet, loosened by constant battle with the X-Men. Xavier defeats Juggernaut with a mental bolt.

WHAT’S HOT
SERENDIPITY. Professor X mentally reaches out to the Teen Brigade and Matt Murdock, and neither respond—which is just as well, because what could the Teen Brigade really do against the Juggernaut? And now is not the time for a lawyer—though Daredevil could have come in handy in this fight. But Xavier says he “accidentally” reached Torch, and it turns out that is exactly who they needed!

FREE ADVERTISING. When Torch comes into the picture, we learn that Reed and Sue are about to get married, with a note from Stan that Fantastic Four Annual #4 is “on sale NOW!” Another aspect of that serendipity I was just talking about? All in all, Torch’s appearance turns out to be a good thing for everybody (except the Juggernaut, of course).

ADMIRATION. For once, Torch meets another young male superhero and instead of getting in a belly-bumping contest, actually admires Angel’s flying abilities. Now that he’s going to be a brother-in-law, is he finally maturing?

SUNSHINE. This may have happened before this issue, but this is the first time I’ve noticed that when Professor X gives a mental command, the “thought bubble” includes little lines sticking out all around the edges, akin to the way children draw the sun in the sky. This artistic decision distinguishes the professor’s mental commands from all the other thought bubbles and seems absolutely appropriate.

SQUEEE. What is the sound of a mighty steam roller barreling down upon you? Apparently it is “SQUEEEE!” The actual definition of “squee” is “an exclamation used to express great delight or excitement,” but for me, Squee is the name of our beloved cat we lost a few years back. I still miss him, as I miss all my other departed pets, but now whenever I see the word “squee” it does indeed afford me great delight.

WHAT’S NOT
OVERSELL. A juggernaut is defined as “a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force,” and this villain is certainly that. But all these repeated claims that he cannot be stopped, his power is at great as the X-Men’s, all efforts against him offer only a few moments respite, infer that he can’t be beaten…and yet, in the end, he is! I harken back to last month’s Destroyer, whom none but Odin could destroy…and yet Thor did so on his own. I understand the villain must be powerful to make the fight interesting, but I’m starting to feel the writers bear more than a passing resemblance to the boy who cried wolf. Let us know up front there is an Achilles Heel, and then we won’t feel so cheated when it’s exploited.

“Aww, what the heck! If I was the cautious type,
I wouldn’t be a member of the FF in the first place!”
— Human Torch

FANTASTIC FOUR #42

“To Save You, Why Must I Kill You?”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
While Mister Fantastic fights the hypnotized Thing, Torch escapes his trap and frees Invisible Girl. While Johnny and Sue battle the Frightful Four, Thing defeats Reed and squeezes him into an airtight metal urn. Sue fends off Medusa and Trapster, leaving Johnny to battle Wizard, Sandman and Thing. They capture Torch and submit him to Wizard’s id machine, hypnotizing him into joining them. Meanwhile, Sue escapes with the urn and frees Reed. They capture Thing, but the Torch unleashes a burst of deadly flame against his partners.

WHAT’S HOT
I GIVE UP. The Narrator is at a loss for words at one point, simply admitting that Thing’s grip “is beyond our poor power of description…!” I’ve often wondered how the Narrator is going to continuously out-do himself, and this simple admission of defeat seems more powerful than any string of extraordinary adjectives he might have strung together.

WHAT’S NOT
THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY. Though this issue provides some development in the ongoing conflict, basically it’s good guys vs. bad guys, lots of fighting, and no resolution at the end. Guess I’ll have to wait till the next issue for the indescribably stupendous and dramatic conclusion!

“Never a dull moment around here, huh, baby?”
— Thing

STRANGE TALES #136

“Find Fury or Die!”
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Art: John Severin
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Multiple HYDRA agents follow Nick Fury on his walk to work one morning. Fury enters a local barber shop and chats with the “workers,” who are secretly SHIELD agents. He alerts them that he’s being followed, and they capture two HYDRA agents, hypnotizing them into believing that SHIELD is located in a nearby warehouse. After the decoys mislead an assassination squad, Fury descends to SHIELD’s underground base in a barber chair. When the assassins attack the warehouse, SHIELD springs the trap, capturing HYDRA.

WHAT’S HOT
We have a new artist—who is apparently actually an old artist from the Golden Age—Johnny Severin, and he makes Nick Fury look even more rugged and macho than before. My favorite image of Fury is on the splash, as he purposefully strides along with his tie blowing in the wind behind him, obviously a man of action.

WELCOME TO THE GENRE! We are now firmly entrenched in the spy genre, with coin transmitters, throat mikes, trick barber chairs and…wait for it… “electronic computers”!

ART IMITATES ART. The Hydra “Master” walks around with a huge blue cat on a leash. And I don’t mean a kitty cat, it looks more like a cougar. I immediately wondered if Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers films is a riff on this, but then Russ reminded me that Ernst Blofeld from the first four James Bond films also had his favorite feline. So! Marvel riffs on Bond, and Mike Myers also riffs on Bond, while at the same time, riffing on Marvel!

MOD SQUAD. As a child of the 60’s, when I see Nick Fury assisted by a blonde, a white guy and a black guy, my thoughts immediately fly to The Mod Squad. I guess in this scenario, Fury is Tige Andrews as Captain Adam Greer? Mod Squad showed up in 1968, so this comic pre-dates Mod Squad. Hmmm…so, could it be that Mod Squad drew its inspiration from Nick Fury?

WHAT’S NOT
QUACK QUACK. One of the Hydra operatives describes himself as being on a “decoy” repair truck. Is the word “decoy” really needed in this situation?

ONCE AGAIN PLEASE, I’M NOT SURE I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME. Having to say “Hail Hydra!” every time you speak is clunky, inefficient and probably as annoying to the Hydra crew as it is to the readers.

NOT THAT INNOCENT. Hooded assassins “silently leave an innocent looking barge” … but they’re FLYING!! How innocent and inconspicuous is that??

CHEW ON THIS. Why is it important to know that the manicurist is chewing gum? We don’t see her chewing gum, so we’re just feeding into the stereotype that all manicurists chew gum.

PLAYING POSSUM. Fury and the Mod Squad pretend to be dead in the barber shop with multiple Hydra agents just outside the door. They’re lucky none of those agents come in and check on them, and then wonder why there’s no sign of blood. And exceptionally lucky that no Hydra agents give each of them one more shot, just to be sure the job was done right, the first time.

“When I give an order, I wanna hear yer eyeballs pop!”
— Nick Fury

“What Lurks Beneath the Mask?”
Script: Stan Lee
Plot and Art: Steve Ditko
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Dormammu captures the white-haired girl. When he learns that Strange seeks the secret of Eternity, he panics and orders Mordo to destroy Strange immediately. Mordo alerts his followers to find Strange. Elsewhere, Strange consults the Aged Genghis, who provides a spell which transports him to a realm with a demon who switches places with him. Strange mentally controls his cloak, defeating the demon and freeing himself. Returning to the Orient, Strange resolves to enter the Ancient One’s comatose mind to uncover the secret of Eternity.

WHAT’S HOT
CONFIRMATION NOTICE. Dormammu gets really bent out of shape when Mordo tells him Doctor Strange is searching for the meaning of “Eternity”—which just goes to confirm that Strange is really on to something here!

WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET? Strange cannot use spells or his enemies will be able to track him through the Enchanted Globe. You see this all the time in movies and TV, when someone is on the run and can’t use their credit cards, or else they’ll be tracked down. Only in this scenario it’s all a little more…strange, isn’t it? Who are these followers of Mordo that are pictured all around him? Some look very exotic and interesting, and I hope I’ll get to meet them someday.

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES. Strange levitates to the upstairs window of a woman who remembers him as someone who saved her life, many years ago. The woman is unable to help Strange, so he flies away, but Stan and Steve say, “Remind us to tell you about it someday.” Is it a story worth telling, and will they ever get around to it? A pointed reminder that everything we see in these comics is not the entire scope of our characters’ lives.

CLASSIC VILLAIN MISTAKE #1. Dormammu traps the white-haired girl, but promises to keep her alive so she can see Strange die. Obviously Dormammu hasn’t been watching a lot of movies lately. This is one of the most classic villain mistakes. If merely a criminal, he would kill her straight off, but a villain wants to “toy” with his enemies and make them suffer…a delay that so often gives time for escape or rescue.

CLASSIC VILLAIN MISTAKE #2. Mordo wants to free himself from Dormammu. Again, another classic downfall of villains: they really don’t work well together, can’t get on the same page, are only interested in their own agendas. This moment is a chink in the armor that will eventually lead to a major splintering between Mordo and Dormammu.

BORSCHT! Aged wizard Genghis gives Strange a scroll with the word “Eternity” on it, but Strange doesn’t take the time to read it through, which causes his misstep into the Netherworld of Doom. Personally, I think it would have been really cool if old Genghis, who can’t really remember things so well these days, actually gave Strange his ancient recipe for Borscht! (See Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2—Helpful Chrissy)

WHAT’S NOT
In page 7 panel 4 in the Marvel Masterworks, the word “Doom” has been erased. Hmmm…wonder why? Is this some weird typographical error, or was it intentional?

WAAAAHH! Dormammu, seen mainly on a screen, looks like a very unhappy toddler who is ready for a nappy.

SIDETRACKED. This story has been going on for some time, and while there are several overriding arcs, once again Strange is sidetracked into an alternate reality that simply slows down his progress. Last time I noted that this was getting tiresome, and guess what? It still is.

“I MUST dare—if we are to survive!”
— Doctor Strange

TALES OF SUSPENSE #69

“If I Must Die, Let It Be With Honor!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Don Heck
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
In Siberia, Boris Bullski stews in anger over being stationed in a remote workcamp. He orders his workers to design a suit of armor made of titanium, planning to humiliate Iron Man and curry favor with his communist masters. Once the armor is completed, he issues a world-wide challenge to Iron Man. Tony is unsure that he is up to the challenge, but when Sen. Byrd goes to the press, he reluctantly accepts. Later, in neutral Alberia, Iron Man and Titanium Man face off, and Iron Man is injured when a secretly-planted mine explodes.

WHAT’S HOT
HERE WE GO AGAIN! There have been more and more multi-issue stories lately, and here—especially since we don’t even begin the epic battle until well past page five—I’d guess this whole business is going to go on for a lot longer than only one more month.

TONY STARK, MAN OF MYSTERY. The story opens with Stark working on a “Reverser,” and we have no idea what that is or what it can do, so we can only imagine. Later, the mystery continues when Stark improves Iron Man’s chest plate by some unknown means. Could it have anything to do with this “Reverser”? I guess we’ll have to buy the next issue to find out!

IT’S COMPLICATED. Going back to my Thor theme of “It’s Complicated,” late in this issue, an old flame of Tony’s is introduced, much to Pepper’s irritation. The socialite swears vengeance on Stark for leaving her flat. What happens next?? Another reason to buy the next issue!

SCOUTING. Bullski studies film of Iron Man in the same way football players learn about their upcoming opponents. It’s the middle of May, and I’m wistfully looking forward to the start of football season!

DOUBLE CROSS #1. The scientists who build the titanium suit are hoping for freedom in exchange, but after they fulfill their part of the bargain, Bullski pulls the rug out from under them and sends them to a different camp instead. It never ceases to amaze me how the Commies in these comics are such complete scoundrels, utterly despicable, with no redeeming qualities.

DOUBLE CROSS #2. Let me double down on my point about the Commie Double Cross by noting that in the fight between Iron Man and Titanium Man, Bullski sets up a cheat by having a secret mine field installed for Iron Man to stumble into. Hmmmm…I guess Bullski wasn’t entirely convinced his warrior suit of armor could beat the capitalistic American in a fair fight…hmmm?

FLIPPANT. When Stark gets a telegram from “behind the iron Curtain,” he calls it Commieland. I had to read it twice to make sure he said what I thought he said, but yep…Commieland.

FRUG A GO-GO. I’m intrigued by Happy’s offer to take Pepper to a discotheque. I would love to see the Frug A Go-Go pop up in a future MCU movie as one of the most difficult to locate Easter Eggs. (Although, if you are a reader of this blog, you’ll now have no trouble spotting it when it happens!)

WHAT’S NOT
THAT’S NEWS TO ME! Stark reveals in a thought bubble that one of the reasons he left the Avengers is because his life-saving chest device had been giving him constant trouble. Huh? Is this the first time we’re hearing about this? And if so….is it true, or is Stark just retroactively making excuses?

BULLY FOR YOU! Stark lets the Commies call the shots when they use the threat of the press to bully him into a fight as Iron Man.

TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU! So, Bullski dares him, Congress dares him, and the newspapers dare him! Guess he has to do it now.

MISS SMITH. With my deepest apologies to all the Smiths of the world, Byrd’s secretary is so peripheral a character that they couldn’t even be bothered to think up a more creative name. Although, come to think of it…I guess if Byrd takes Miss Smith to the MoonWinx Motel for an extended lunch, he can register under the name “Smith” and not actually be telling a lie.

PROPAGANDA MUCH? A Commie says “This shall be a propaganda victory,” and I’m wondering if that’s really something anyone would say about themselves. Doesn’t the word “propaganda” reek of negative connotations? But then again, it might lose something in the Russian-to-English translation.

HEDGING. And finally, in the last panel, the Narrator calls it a “fatal-seeming explosion” which totally undercuts the drama, turning your cliffhanger ending into a small hill in the toddlers’ playground. Suddenly I seem to be a lot less interested in buying the next issue. (But I will come back for the mystery of the “Reverser” and some more of Pepper’s “if looks could kill” daggers directed at the bejeweled and bedazzled Countess de la Spiroza.)

“Would it be better to fight and lose—
than to stand branded as a coward?”
— Tony Stark

“Midnight in Greymoor Castle!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Dick Ayers
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Nazi sympathizer Dr. Cedric Rawlings shows off his latest invention to the Red Skull’s agent, Maj. Uberhart: a shrinking ray. Meanwhile, Steve Rogers’ army unit strikes out for a nighttime attack on a Nazi-held port, leaving the base vulnerable to an attack by Nazi saboteurs. Bucky is captured during the attack and transported to Greymoor Castle, where Rawlings awaits, over his sister Celia’s objections. When Cap learns of the capture, he abandons his unit and hijacks a plane back to England.

WHAT’S HOT
GOTH TO THE MAX. Greymoor Castle completes its gothic vibe with its very own Igor assistant.

I BEG OF YOU! Celia implores her brother not to continue his mad scheme by saying “I beg of you!” When Russ and I watched Dark Shadows, it became a running joke how many times a character said “I beg of you!” and now it always makes me chuckle when I hear it.

WHAT’S NOT
WAISTING AWAY. Celia has the skinniest waist I have ever seen anywhere! Not even Vera Miles from those old MGM musicals comes close! It’s simply…unnatural.

MORAL DILEMMA AVERTED or…HASTE MAKES WASTE. Like Doctor Strange this month, who did not thoroughly peruse the “Eternal” scroll, Rogers instantly takes off the moment he hears Bucky is in danger, missing the dispatch indicating that his army buddies are about to face trouble—trouble he could have helped avert, if he’d stuck around. The only positive aspect of his impulsive action is that it increases the drama for the next issue, but more immediately, it alleviates him of any moral dilemma that would have vexed his soul, should he have had to choose between the two disasters.

BUSYWORK. In Marvel, sometimes it seems the purpose of women and children is simply to give the heroes something to do.

“Rogers! You knuckle-headed, knock-kneed, gold-brickin’ meatball!”
— Sgt. Duffy

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #28

“The Menace of the Molten Man!”
Plot: Steve Ditko
Script: Stan Lee
Art: Steve Ditko
Letters: Sam Rosen

IN A NUTSHELL
While trying to recover his costume from Spencer Smythe, Peter witnesses a struggle between Smythe and his assistant Raxton. A lab accident coats Raxton’s skin with a metal alloy, granting him super strength. Spider-Man tracks Raxton down and encourages him to turn himself in, but Raxton dubs himself the Molten Man, and fights back. Spidey uses his webbing to capture Raxton and leave him for the cops. He races home, just in time to leave for his high school graduation. After graduation, Liz says goodbye to Peter.

WHAT’S HOT
LIFE CHANGING EVENT. This is probably the first time I’m seeing a Life Changing Event in a Marvel Comic. I know Reed and Sue are planning a wedding, and if nothing happens to mess up their happy day, that will definitely be right up there with Peter’s graduation. But as I read this issue of The Amazing Spider-Man, I’m pleased to see time marching forward. From this point on, there will be stories that happen to high school Parker, and stories that happen after he graduates. In a world that sometimes feels a bit stagnant and time-challenged, this is a very big deal.

SERENDIPITY. Peter easily retrieves his original Spider-Man costume from Spence Smythe’s house, replacing it with his “shrunken store-bought costume.” Fortunately, Smythe says he hasn’t yet had time to look at the Spidey suit very closely, and then he leaves to answer the door, giving Peter the opportunity to make the switch while nobody’s looking. It’s all too easy and convenient, but at least we get that bit of business out of the way, so we can move on with the story.

HEART ON HER SLEEVE. Liz confesses her love for Peter…well, at least her “crush.” But it’s enough to make her truly miserable, when she thinks he’s dating other girls. As Peter heads off to Empire State University, will we run into Liz again? I hope so, because where’s the sense in revealing this emotional information, if you’re not going to follow up?

WHAT’S NOT
BURYING THE LEAD. Maybe it’s just because I’m a girl, and a mom, or maybe it’s because I’ve already seen so many different villains in my short time reading Marvel Comics, but when I look at the cover, though the dramatic image claiming all the real estate is of some new villain, I’m much more excited about the little blue box at the bottom announcing Peter Parker’s Graduation. The graduation story only got four of the twenty pages, but it’s vastly more entertaining and significant than anything else that happens in this issue.

YELLOW IS THE NEW GREEN. As his clothes rip off and he’s down to nothing but short purple pants, Molten Man looks like a poor man’s Hulk.

DELUSIONAL, PART 1. Why is Mrs. Watson so excited to tell Mary Jane that Peter got a scholarship? Mary Jane and Peter haven’t even met yet! I think Mrs. Watson is wrapped up in some happy delusions, envisioning a big wedding for the two young people, followed by a bevy of grandchildren. In fact, she’s so delusional, she’s even convinced herself that Mary Jane is not her niece at all, but actually her daughter!

DELUSIONAL PART 2. But I guess we should cut Mrs. Watson a little slack, since Peter now apparently thinks Liz Allan’s last name is Hilton!

THE PICK-UP ARTIST. JJJ butters up Aunt May in an attempt to win Peter back to the newspaper, exclaiming, in the most awkward and embarrassing speech I have yet heard in Marvel Comics, “His aunt! I thought you were his sister!” Funny, because I’ve always thought she looks more like his grandmother.

“Yeesh! Jonah is even MORE revolting when he tries to be NICE!”
— Peter Parker

FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #3

“Bedlam at the Baxter Building!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Jack Kirby
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
When Doctor Doom reads of Reed and Sue’s impending wedding, he plots revenge against the Fantastic Four. Using his emotion charger, he fans the flames of every evil menace on Earth and beyond. As super-hero guests arrive for the ceremony, they are met by villains as diverse as HYDRA and Attuma, from Mandarin to the Mole Man. The Watcher provides Reed with a device that will disperse the villains and erase their memories, clearing the way for the wedding. Later, SHIELD blocks two interlopers from attending the reception.

WHAT’S HOT
AND GUEST. Stark’s date for the wedding looks like Annette Funicello.

INCLUSIVE ART. The art on the top of page 17 is (pardon my pun) fantastic! We see a great many superheroes in the heat of battle, with several iconic catch phrases thrown in for good measure.

DIMENSIONAL ART. Another work of art: for the journey through the Fourth Dimension, the artist chooses to get the point across by having Reed and the Watcher pass in front of a giant photograph. What is the photo depicting? I can’t tell, and really, does it matter? The point is that it’s as different from the world of comics as the first three dimensions are from this Fourth Dimension.

CHUCKLES AND THRILLS. At the end, the Narrator says “Hope you got a few chuckles and a few thrills out of our tale!” Well, I did! This one has it all. It’s a celebration, not only of Reed and Sue’s wedding, but of the whole world of Marvel Comics.

WHAT’S NOT
WATCHING THE WATCHER. Again, the Watcher interferes while claiming non-interference. Sigh…I’ve given up trying to understand how he justifies his actions.

SELECTIVE DISPLACEMENT. The Watcher provides a “Sub-Atronic Time Displacer,” which Reed correctly guesses is exactly the tool needed for the job. But did he also know it would only work on villains? And next question: why is that?

THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE. Doctor Doom says the attack must be “now, when he will least expect it!” If that’s what he really thinks, Doom hasn’t been paying attention. At the very least, he apparently hasn’t read X-Men #13 this month, where Torch comments that an attack by their old enemies is exactly what Reed expected on his wedding day.

KILL THE DRESS. What a horrible wedding dress! Even for 1965. Well, I guess that’s what happens when you hire Jack Kirby as your designer, instead of Christian Dior (who the future Mr. and Mrs. Reed Richards surely could afford). The veil is okay, but I’m sorry, Sue deserves so much better than this.

SUPERSTITIOUS MUCH? Is it “bad luck” that Reed sees Sue in her wedding dress before the ceremony? Let’s hope not!!

“Mebbe you two shoulda just eloped!”
— Thing

AVENGERS #20

“Vengeance Is Ours!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Don Heck
Inks: Wally Wood
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Hawkeye, Wanda and Pietro race to Cap’s aid, using teamwork to save him from his fall. Suddenly Swordsman is teleported away by the Mandarin, who recruits him to destroy the Avengers from within. Mandarin sends a hologram of Iron Man to endorse Swordsman joining the Avengers. Once accepted, Swordsman plants a bomb in the Mansion. However, he has second thoughts, and fights his way through the Avengers to remove the bomb. Later, Swordsman realizes the Avengers will never accept him again.

WHAT’S HOT
WELL OILED MACHINE? Cap had a hunch the new Avengers would jump right in to save him, and they pretty much did as expected. Of course, the moment the danger is past, they immediately go back to squabbling and belly bumping. Seems they’ve still got a few issues to work out…

DR. CAP. Or DR. AMERICA. But Cap is like a psychiatrist, giving Hawkeye and Quicksilver “a chance to uncork their frustrations and hostilities” while wisely warning Wanda to stay out of it. What a leader! (No question who should get the position!)

BOY SCOUTS. When Swordsman attacks with a flaming sword, Cap yells out “Plan ‘G’!! As we REHEARSED it!!” Plan G?? I love how prepared they are!

MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY. In the end, Swordsman realizes he has alienated both the Avengers and the Mandarin, and they will all be out to get him. But he also says, “There’s something about being an Avenger…that seems to get into your blood and never let go.” After his sudden turn around with the bomb, I think he’s proven that he may have what it takes to be a hero. Will keep watch.

WHAT’S NOT
RACIST INSULTS. Mandarin calls Swordsman a “witless OCCIDENTAL fool” and Swordsman calls Mandarin “Fu Manchu.” Also, Mandarin says, “Ah, so!” several times. I guess you could get away with this sort of stuff in the 1960’s, but it all seems so uncomfortably racist today.

TRUST ISSUES. The Avengers are rather naïve to trust a suit of armor, even while noting that his voice sounds kind of strange (“Why, Grandma! What big TEETH you have!”), and he demands something that doesn’t make sense. Does it not occur to any of them that this could be a ruse? If it’s this easy to fool the Avengers, it’s a wonder they’ll survive.

“Individually, each one is an enemy to be respected, but, as a TEAM, they’re practically unbeatable!”
— Swordsman

TALES TO ASTONISH #71

“Escape…to Nowhere!”
Script: Stan Lee
Pencils: Adam Austin
Inks: Vince Colletta
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
Namor uses Neptune’s shell to sever the octopus’ tentacles, slaying the behemoth. Neptune’s spirit appears and sends him to the Forbidden Deeps, to face the next peril. He encounters an old man from the outskirts of Atlantis, whole humble faith quietens his doubts and restores his will to fight. In Atlantis, Krang promises Dorma that the Sub-Mariner will die, and his ruthlessness leads to the formation of a rebellion. Meanwhile, Namor enters the Deeps, but his path is blocked by a giant Seaweed Man.

WHAT’S HOT
YOU LIKE ME! YOU REALLY LIKE ME! I very much enjoyed Namor’s encounter with the old Atlantean who showers his king with adoration. Though Namor is not the sort of leader who requires or demands this level of worship, it makes his heart happy. And it made my heart happy as well.

YOU…LOOK…MAHVELOUS!! Though the soap opera in this issue is somewhat superfluous, Dorma’s facial expressions carry the show.

WHAT’S NOT
HOT MESS. That being said, I am not a fan of anything else done by the combination of this artist and inker. Body parts misshapen, eyebrows extremely arched, everything simply too dark. And call-in Steve McQueen: that seaweed man at the end is just a BLOB.

SIGH…When I first heard that Namor was getting his own title, I was looking forward to a deeper dive into the kingdom under the sea. But these last few issues have been rote, predictable, lacking in imagination. This one begins with Namor fighting a giant squid and ends with him fighting a giant seaweed man. Have we made any progress? Not really. And pardon my pun, but my enthusiasm is now…dampened.

“The people love thee! The people wish thee well!
The people shall never lose faith in thee, Sub-Mariner!”
— “The Ancient”

“Like a Beast at Bay!”
Script: Stan Lee
Layouts: Jack Kirby
Art: Mickey Demeo
Letters: Artie Simek

IN A NUTSHELL
The Hulk grabs Rick and leaps away from the oncoming nuclear missile, escaping the blast. Ross, Talbot and the air force descend on the scene, but the Leader’s humanoid bursts into flames before they can analyze it. Meanwhile, Hulk takes the injured Rick to his cave to recover. Hulk attempts a gamma ray treatment to prevent transforming into Banner, but Ross and his men attack the cave. Hulk forces Rick to leave the cave, just as the Leader appears telepathically to offer an alliance to rule the world.

WHAT’S HOT
IDENITY CRISIS. The writers have spent the whole of Hulk’s existence trying to figure out what the heck to do with him. After so much “Hulk Smash!!” it’s still disconcerting to hear the big green man talking more like an adult than a toddler. Now that Banner is more fully represented in his personality, Hulk is much more reasonable…yet still so full of anger. Where are we going with all this? Wherever we end up, it’s beginning to feel like the blob of anger and confusion that is Hulk is finally getting ready to congeal.

VOICE OF DEFEAT. I love the Leader unintentionally displaying his lack of confidence in handling Hulk. “This time,” he exclaims, “he shall not escape me again!” What?? I’m thinking: “This time he shall not escape me,” or “He shall not escape me again,” but the Leader can’t make it to the end of the sentence before tampering his false bravado with what I deem to be a Freudian slip of overcompensation.

HE AIN’T HEAVY…Hulk cares about Rick Jones and is doing anything he can to keep him safe and alive. This is a side of Hulk we’ve never seen before, when Banner was so far in the background, and it now makes him a much more complex and interesting character.

WINDOW TO THE SOUL. I like the way Kirby draws Hulk, his face so full of emotions: confusion, anger, even doubtful self-reflection as the Leader proposes a solution, telling Hulk, “The choice is YOURS!” I’m not sure how Hulk will choose, but by the look on his face, I believe he will have used his Banner brain to totally think it through before deciding.

WHAT’S NOT
DRAW A BREATH. The art of artificial respiration is not easy to depict. Here, it looks more like Hulk is spitting or vomiting on a comatose Rick Jones, rather than administering the breath of life.

STRONGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER. Further problems: Hulk operates off a flawed theory that he is the best one to give AR because “NOBODY can apply it like ME—my lungs are the world’s strongest!” However, the world’s strongest lungs would no doubt blow out the lungs of the respiration recipient! Sometimes a more gentle and skillful approach is needed.

BATHROOM BREAK. It’s wonderful that we’ve got this action-packed story going on for so many issues now, but honestly, the pace is dizzying. Never mind that the characters are locked in with no opportunity to make cameo appearances in other titles, the real question is: When do they eat? Sleep? Take a bathroom break? I’m having flashbacks to the TV show 24.

“Don’t ever call me ‘Doc’! Dr. Banner is DEAD!
From now on, I’m just the Hulk!”
— Hulk